Review – American Horror Story: Coven

In comparison to the two previous seasons, Coven seems to be a step in a slightly different direction for the show known for being so edgy. While previous seasons have shown us mutilated babies, alien encounters, and a retelling of the Black Dahlia murder, this new season is either slow to pick up or simply a bit tamer than its predecessors. Don’t let that mislead though, there’s still enough provocativeness to go around.

Set in present day New Orleans, witchcraft and Voodoo promise to be the themes of the season. With slight variations, the main cast is still present, with Taissa Farmiga as Zoe Benson, Jessica Lange as Fiona Goode, and Evan Peters as Kyle Spencer. Emma Roberts and Gabourey Sidibe join this season, along with the talented Angela Bassett as a very well-known voodoo priestess and Kathy Bates as the infamous Delphine LaLaurie, best known for torturing and murdering slaves in her free-time. The mix of modern day intrigue like the frat-party gang rape of a famous starlet, and historic references to the Salem witch trials and dark side of New Orleans promises an exciting new season of AHS – assuming none of the intensity for which it is famous is sacrificed at the altar of mainstream appeal. Pun intended.